Lisa Hilton - Life Is Beautiful (CD)

Reviews for Life Is Beautiful
#1 Amazon New Release/Cool Jazz
#2 ZMR Radio/Streaming Chart
#14 JazzWeek Jazz Radio Chart

“The album that absolutely enthralls…. There's an affirmation of goodness to the music of pianist Lisa Hilton, a quiet something of a positive nature that is known intrinsically true so listen in to Life Is Beautiful before it's all too late.” All About Jazz/Mike Jurkovic

“Music of great depth and skill…brilliantly executed, gorgeously rendered, accessible-to-many virtuosic music…”
The New York City Jazz Record
“Life Is Beautiful, the latest studio recording from Lisa Hilton, is a presentation that her established audiences and jazz fans alike will enjoy. That is proven from the album’s opening to its end. The record a beautiful addition to this year’s field of new jazz albums.” Phil’s Picks
“Lisa Hilton: Composer, Pianist, and Woman Extraordinaire…” Harvard University Jazz Spectrum / WHRB
“A recording milestone…ephemeral…very healing…” Cree McCree / DownBeat Magazine

“Hilton is an excellent pianist, prizing feel over flash, & this is a reflective but deeply rhythmic set to savor.” Robert Stone/ JazzWise

“Rich impressionistic form a la Debussy.” Jazz Weekly

“Dazzling!” The Midwest Record
Track Listings
1 Ernie's Blues
2 Retro Road Trip
3 Nightingales & Fairy Tales
4 Too Hot
5 Unforgotten Moments, Half Forgotten Dreams
6 Stepping Into Paradise
7 Santa Monica Samba
8 Seduction
9 Temporary Lullaby
10 More Than Another Day
11 So This Is Love
Lisa Hilton and her trio, manifest a memorable experience on life is beautiful, her third recording of the pandemic era, and the acclaimed pianist, composer, and producer’s twenty-fifth album as a leader. On it, Hilton indulges her love of the piano with ten original tracks and the cover gem, Ernie’s Blues, (written by Ernie Wilkins). Backed by her ever-excellent band mates: Rudy Royston on drums and Luques Curtis on bass, Hilton’s elegantly swinging piano and engaging compositions encompass a range from traditional tracks, Latin, blues and retro seamlessly. Royston continually hits the marks on his kit, and Curtis shows off plenty of style over this splendid repertoire of compositions.

The album begins with an impressive bass solo from Curtis on the classic Ernie’s Blues. The tune’s complex chords and loose bluesy passages allow accomplished soloing from Hilton as well. Retro Road Trip highlights Royston’s rhythm skills and has a bit of a Prokofiev energy amid mid-century grooves. Inspired by classic American Standards, Hilton includes two romantic compositions here: So This Is Love and Nightingales and Fairy Tales - both evoking nostalgic charms and reminiscent of some of Bill Evans work in his sixties period. Too Hot dips into modal ideas creating its own melodic atmosphere. Hilton includes two Latin flavored compositions: Stepping Into Paradise as well as Santa Monica Samba, that show the versatility of the trio in mingling different Latin styles together effortlessly. Seduction is a solo piano piece that Hilton has recorded before, (some other tracks have also been recorded on past albums), with a new extended version here, showcasing Hilton’s love for the blues. Temporary Lullaby, written for Hilton’s daughter, is a melodic standout. In her liner notes, it mentions that 'More Than Another Day' nods to Miles Davis, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Cole Porter.